The New England Patriots finished off their preseason schedule with a 22-20 victory over the New York Giants, that moved them to an overall record of 3-0. In a night where many jobs were on the line, a few players stepped up to make Bill Belichick and his staff think twice about their upcoming moves on Tuesday. Next up is cutdown day, but first, get all of your updates from tonight’s Patriots victory below!
Final score: Patriots (3-0) 22 : 20 Giants (0-3)
August 29, 6:00 pm ET | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | Broadcast information
First quarter
The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to defer their decision to the second half, meaning New York would start with the ball. The Patriots starting defensive unit consisted of many of the same names we’ve seen throughout the preseason. A mix of expected starters and reserves. The Patriots defense made quick work of the Giants, forcing a three and out that was capped off by a Josh Uche sack. A short New York punt gave New England good field position, setting up the offense around midfield.
That left things to the New England offense, who was led by Cam Newton for the third straight week. The starting offense was more of the same as it has been, David Andrews was a notable absence after he missed a practice earlier in the week. New England’s offense moved down the field with early on, picking up a pair of first downs on their first three plays. Eventually they stalled out just outside the red zone, forcing a field goal attempt by Nick Folk. He nailed his first attempt of the preseason from 41 yards out. [Patriots 3 : 0 Giants]
New York’s offense came back out for their second drive with the starters, as Giants head coach Joe Judge said that he expected their starters to play throughout the first half. Daniel Jones and co. stuck with a steady stream of run plays, moving past midfield within the first five snaps. The Giants continued to move the ball on the ground, converting a 4th-and-1 at the New England 42 yard line, before heading to the air, where they immediately lost six yards on a sack by Ja’Whaun Bentley and Deatrich Wise. One play later the Giants punt unit was on the field. They were able to down the ball inside the New England 5 yard line.
The New England offense returned to the field being led by Cam Newton. A Trent Brown false start forced New England’s offense into an early 3rd-and-7, Newton took a shot downfield to Jakobi Meyers, who had the ball ripped away for an interception by Giants linebacker Blake Martinez, setting New York up in the same spot that they had punted from three plays earlier.
HOW DID HE GET THIS BALL!? @Big__Blake50@Giants take over!
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2021
: #NEvsNYG on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/4omupVck3h pic.twitter.com/ZDlttyjt4M
The Giants third drive started with an offensive pass interference penalty that quickly took them out of New England territory. The quarter ended one play later. [1Q - Patriots 3 : 0 Giants]
Second quarter
New York was able to move the ball well through the air to start the second quarter, where it appeared the Patriots had gone to their reserve defensive unit. Dont’a Hightower, Devin McCourty, and Matthew Judon all left the field at the end of the first quarter. Two superstate penalties on Michael Jackson Sr. set the Giants up at the New England 1 yard line. On a 3rd-and-goal play, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones rolled out and fired an interception into the arms of cornerback D’Angelo Ross who laid in the end zone for a touchback.
Mac Jones came into the game alongside the reserve offensive line. It looks as if the Patriots planned to only have their starters play the first quarter tonight. An early delay of game penalty set the Patriots up with a 1st-and-15 before Mac Jones fired a 21 yard strike to Kristian Wilkerson. Josh McDaniels continued to call passing plays for the rookie, who went 2/2 on the drive and forced a defensive hold before being sacked on a third down to stall out at the New York 30 yard line. That brought on rookie undrafted free agent Quinn Nordin for a 48-yard field goal try that sailed through the uprights. [Patriots 6 : 0 Giants]
A strong return by Dante Pettis set New York up at their own 31-yard line following the New England field goal. They were able to pick up a single first down before being forced to punt. A booming punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback.
The first play of New England’s ensuing drive looked to be a well thrown ball by Mac Jones that was dropped by Gunner Olszewski. A common theme throughout the week. An offensive hold and check down forced the Patriots offense into a 3rd-and-12 from their own 18 yard line. Jones was unable to connect with Olszewski again to end the drive.
The Giants were set up nicely at their own 42 yard line with 2:30 left in the half and two timeouts. New York moved the ball down the field with ease, as Daniel Jones connected with tight end Kaden Smith for a 23-yard touchdown. [Patriots 6 : 7 Giants]
After a nice J.J. Taylor run, the Patriots looked to have a shot at a long pass before the end of the half but Mac Jones was sacked to end things off. [HALFTIME - Patriots 6 : 7 Giants]
Third quarter
The Patriots opened up the second half with the ball after deferring their choice from the opening coin toss. The drive started out with a strike from Mac Jones to Kristian Wilkerson for 27 yards. A pair of J.J. Taylor runs led New England into the red zone, where Jones would deliver the ball to Isaiah Zuber for a 17-yard touchdown. Rhamondre Stevenson was stuffed on a toss play on the Patriots’ 2-point try. [Patriots 12 : 7 Giants]
Between THREE defenders. @MacJones_10 rips a TD to Isaiah Zuber! @Patriots
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2021
: #NEvsNYG on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)
: https://t.co/4omupVck3h pic.twitter.com/etahITGbfz
The Giants would turn to their second team offense in half number two. Their first drive started with a false start penalty, followed by a pair of short yardage plays that set up a 3rd-and-5 where Giants receiver Alex Bachman dropped a well placed pass to force a punt that J.J. Taylor would return for 23 yards into Giants territory.
Mac Jones would take over from there, leading the Patriots on a 4-play, 50 yard drive into the end zone for another touchdown. This one capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run by Rhamondre Stevenson. [Patriots 19 : 7 Giants]
New York responded well on their ensuing drive, moving the ball through the air on the Patriots reserve secondary, before stalling out on a series of errant throws from Giants backup quarterback Mike Glennon. They settled for a field goal attempt by Graham Gano who was wide right from 41.
Mac Jones would return to the field for his sixth possession of the night. Despite moving the ball well on their first few plays, the Patriots offense would stall out after an offensive pass interference penalty and a couple of sacks that forced them into a 4th-an-23 situation. Jake Bailey would come on to punt, and launch a rocketing 64-yard punt to set the Giants up at their own 20 yard line.
Fourth quarter
The Patriots defense would follow up on the solid field position by having their worst defensive series of the preseason, allowing New York to gash them on the ground to the tune of 50 yards on six carries. The Giants would cap things off with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to Bachman. Graham Gano’s extra point try was true. [Patriots 19 : 14 Giants]
Brian Hoyer would come on for the Patriots in the fourth quarter, keeping with the tradition of this preseason. He had a very strong start to his first drive, completing eight straight passes before the unit stalled around the Giants’ 20 yard line. Quinn Nordin would come on to hit his second field goal on the night, this time from 37-yards out. [Patriots 22 : 14 Giants]
Mike Glennon returned with the Giants reserve offense on the next drive. A second down sack set them up for a 3rd-and-15 where he would thread the needle to Damion Willis. The best throw and catch of the night by either team. A pair of sacks by second year defensive tackle Bill Murray got the Patriots defense off the field.
Hoyer would return for his second series, this time running the four-minute drill. Looking to burn clock and seal the win. They were able to move the ball effectively thanks to a couple of chunk plays that kept the drive alive into the 2:00 warning.
A few kneel downs later and the Patriots decided to give Quinn Nordin another chance to work with a 54-yard field goal that he missed wide left. The Giants were given one more chance with ball with 0:27 left. Glennon drove them, down the field for a touchdown following a Hail Mary attempt that was successful with newcomer Shaun Wade in coverage. The Giants 2-point conversion to tie was broken up by Wade. [Patriots 22 : 20 Giants]
WHAT! Damion Willis hauled in a @Mike_Glennon heave! #NEvsNYG pic.twitter.com/VVFdQVZWIF
— NFL (@NFL) August 30, 2021
Big 2-point stop to preserve a win for the @Patriots! #NEvsNYG pic.twitter.com/mSvrkA4gLs
— NFL (@NFL) August 30, 2021
The Patriots finish the preseason 3-0!